Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In an age of disinformation and fake news, a group called Arizona for Abortion Access is working to make abortion more available in our state. As they claim on their website: “There are many reasons why someone may decide to have an abortion. But no matter how you personally feel about abortion, every person should be able to make their own decisions with their healthcare provider and those they love and trust.” There are many problems with this statement, not the least of which is the ability to make decisions. The statement does not include the decision of the infant in the womb who would decide to live every time - if given the chance.

To further their agenda, the Arizona for Abortion Access is “working to ensure Arizonans can make the decisions that are best for them and their families — free from government interference.” To that end, they are working with ACLU of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Arizona List, Healthcare Rising Arizona, NARAL Arizona, and Planned Parenthood Advocates to collect “signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot. This amendment will protect abortion access in Arizona and ensure every person can make this deeply personal decision with dignity” according to their website.

Tragically, their efforts are filled with lies and confusing statements. According to supporters of the amendment, it claims to only allows abortion up to viability (24 - 26 weeks). That statement is false. The amendment, if passed, would allow abortion beyond viability for virtually any reason if the abortionist – who stands to profit from it – signs off on it. Currently, abortion is legal in Arizona up to 15-weeks, nearly four months. But the amendment legalizes abortion up to birth under the broad “mental health” exemption that includes, not only those struggling with mental health issues, but a woman who simply changes her mind or is experiencing stress. The mental health exception has been abused and become a well-known work around to rubber stamp any request for a late term abortion.

There is the understanding that this amendment needs to pass because “we need to protect the right to contraception.” Currently, Arizona law states that abortion does not include contraception. The definition of abortion under Arizona law states: “Abortion does not include birth control devices, oral contraceptives used to inhibit or prevent ovulation, conception or the implantation of a fertilized ovum in the uterus…”. Furthermore, contraception is a preventative measure. This amendment is not about prevention, it’s about abortion. No one is making any effort to take away contraception. That claim is a scare tactic to drum up support for an amendment that goes too far.

There is the understanding that this amendment needs to pass so women can “get treatment for ectopic pregnancies.” According to Arizona law, abortion does not include the termination of an ectopic pregnancy. The definition of abortion under Arizona law states: “Abortion does not include birth control … or the use of any means to … terminate an ectopic pregnancy or to remove a dead fetus. To be clear, an ectopic pregnancy puts a woman’s life at immediate risk. Arizona law already allows abortion in cases where a woman’s life is at risk.

There is the understanding that this amendment needs to pass so women can get medical treatment for miscarriages. The truth is that Arizona law states that abortion does not include the removal of a miscarriage. The definition of abortion under Arizona law states: “Abortion does not include birth control … or the use of any means to … terminate an ectopic pregnancy or to remove a dead fetus.” Miscarriage care is done when a fetus is no longer living. An abortion is done when the fetus is still alive.

There is the understanding that if the amendment doesn’t pass, abortion will likely soon be illegal in Arizona because the AZ Supreme Court will likely reinstate the pre-Roe law. The truth is that abortion is legal up to 15 weeks of pregnancy in Arizona. Abortion laws can be revised by the Legislature, but you don’t have to go to extremes by changing the state constitution with an amendment that strips commonsense safety precautions and parents from the process.

Some believe that most people support legal abortion. The fact is most people support limits on abortion and they want abortion regulated. A recent Gallup poll shows 70% of people OPPOSE late term abortion. But this amendment legalizes it with nothing but the approval of the abortionist. And this amendment would remove those commonsense protections, and many others just to extend abortion beyond the point most voters are not comfortable with.

Let us stand for those who have no voice. Let us stand for life… especially the unborn.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline, V.F. 

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